This blog is in conjunction with the C.S. Lewis DeCal. We will deconstruct the works of one of the most influential writers and thinkers of the 20th century. The course objective is to discuss the following three questions:
1. What structures, images, themes, and plots does C.S. Lewis use? What purpose and effects are created?
2. How are the life and thoughts of C.S. Lewis reflected in these works? (to better answer this question, we will explore Lewis’ diary and literary criticism in addition to Surprised by Joy)
3. How do the books connect to each other; what overarching themes and messages do you draw from the works?
Students should come out of this course with well-formulated answers to the above questions, and an overall deeper appreciation and understanding of CS Lewis and his works.
Responses must be at least: 200 words.
Tips for responses:
1. Ask the above three questions during your reading.
2. Comment/discuss issues discussed by other classmates.
3. Pick and image or passage that stands out to you, and discuss. Keep in mind: passages from outside sources (books, diaries, journals, etc.) do not count as part of the word limit.
My experience with Surprised by Joy has been somewhat of a struggle. Though I am very interested in C. S. Lewis’ spiritual and personal journey the structure of the book frustrates me. But I appreciate that my journey to understanding C. S. Lewis’ life is not an easy or comfortable. In Chapter 9 The Great Knock, what stood out to me the most was the conversation that took place between C. S Lewis and Kirk.
ReplyDelete“I began to “make conversation’ in the deplorable manner which I had acquired at hose evening parties and indeed found increasingly necessary to use with my father. I said I was surprised at the “scenery of Surrey; it was much “wilder than I had expected.” “Stop” shouted Kirk, with a suddenness that made me jump. “What do you mean wildness and what ground had you for not expecting it?” “Do you seen, then,” concluded the Knock, “that your remark was meaningless?” (75).
The passage above entails a strong and worth heeding message. Words are powerful beings with intentional meanings. The utterance of words, acknowledges our comprehension of them and once placed in conversation we use them as our own. I believe the dialogue between Kirk and Lewis highlights the empty conversation that exists within our society today. The “small talk” and attempts of “making conversation” only socially removes one from another and one from reality. Kirk emphasizes the importance of having “basis” for one’s argument. So before making a comment one must partake in an internal dialogue and it is during this process to which one finds a basis for his/her argument or statement. The basis is built not only on what we read about in books and see on television but our own experiences. In regards to my faith in Jesus Christ, I realized that my personal spiritual maturity was realized not just by reading the Bible but once the scriptures became a part of my everyday experience. For example, my interpretation of Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” was enhanced once I actually endured the process of mourning. Though an uncomfortable process, through the discomfort I experience both spiritual growth and maturity. Similarly, I believe that this chapter marks a point in C. S. Lewis’ life, through the lens of a reclaimed believer, in which he was confronted in the ways in which he uses his words. It’s not enough to say that one is joyful but rather to explore the basis behind the joy. And if those reasons transcend the superficial and is unyielding in times of uncertainty and uneasiness than one has found an immovable joy.
I found the quote used for chapter 10 as very interesting in our readings for this week. It reads, “The fields, the floods, the heavens, with one consent/ Did seeme to laugh on me, and favour mine intent.” Lewis opens up this chapter by talking about his new companion Arthur. His brother was away at war, to Lewis could not turn to him in his times of need. This quote describes the almost uncanny nature of life. How one thing seems to go wrong, like his brother being away at war, but then life brings about something right, the introduction of Arthur. Lewis needed Arthur much in the same way that he needed his brother. It would have been very discouraging to see one’s brother ship off to war, but life brought about a new companion for Lewis. With this quote Lewis suggests that there is some favorable power residing over him, whether that be fate or an actual being. He suggests that he asked for a new companion while is brother was away and he was bestowed with one that was able to change him in a very important way. Lewis suggests that someone is looking out for him with this quote, and that become evident later on in his story.
ReplyDeleteSarah Vaughan
In Chapters 9-10, Lewis begins to describe experiences that he did actually enjoy, in contrast with the ones in the previous chapters: His tutor, the Great Knock, that despite the particularity of his character taught young Lewis elaborate reasoning, and perfected his understanding of Greek; his friend, Arthur, that taught him the appreciation of books that he never read before, and the caring and connection with the material side of the books; and nature, the beautiful landscapes that Lewis enjoyed to visit with his friends when they offered him a ride. This is a gradual shift in Lewis’ tone, and one might expect that Lewis will come closer and closer in the next chapters in describing how these experiences will or have brought him Joy. Indeed, in chapter 11 Lewis digs deeper into “the history of Joy,” and offers explanations of his distinction between Joy and pleasure. Also, as he describes the difference between his real and imaginary worlds: “nearly all that I loved I believed to be imaginary; nearly all that I believed to be real I thought grim and meaningless,” and his desire for privacy: “There was no region even in the innermost depth of one’s soul (nay, there least of all) which one could surround with a barbed wire fence and guard with a notice No Admittance”, he sheds more light into the reasons of his divergence from Christianity. It remains to see if in the following chapters Lewis will get more specific on the circumstances that he experienced the great Joy that he so much longed for.
ReplyDeleteIn the chapter Fortune’s Smile , C.S Lewis has a powerful quote that really grabbed ahold of my attention. He is talking about his relations to his father to help explain his point. There was a time in his life where he had allowed himself to get prepared for confirmation but he was doing this in disbelief which he says he was “acting a part,eating, and drinking my own condemnation” (p. 161). But the quote that really got me thinking was “Cowardice drove me into hypocrisy and hypocrisy into blasphemy” (P. 161) So many times people act like cowards and are ashamed so their relationship with God never grows. In fact they get bitter and end of getting deceived. Because they lack courage they never get to experience anything in fullness. Especially in having a loving relationship with God, one must be able to embrace what the mind can not comprehend. For we walk by faith and not by sight. When Jesus talked of the narrow road and how only a few would find it, and many would travel on the wide road but its end is destruction. I believe the narrow road looks like this, its a road where you can’t see the next step you are about to talk but you are trusting God that he is leading you the right way. One must have courage to go on a journey with God. C.S Lewis would in fact embrace courage and rid himself of cowardice.
ReplyDelete“The only two kinds of talk I wanted were the almost purely imaginative and the almost surely rational…Yet though I could never be a scientist, I had scientific as well as imaginative impulses, and I loved ratiocination.” (Pg. 136-137)
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to learn more about Lewis’ personality and mental framework in chapter’s 9-10. Lewis considered himself a rational. He says Kirk sharpened his logical and dialectic mind and in this mental framework, Lewis converts to Christianity. It is sometimes conceived that Christianity is only for the ignorant or illogical of mind but clearly C.S. Lewis, a logical thinker, found good reason to convert to Christianity. It seems to have been a large roadblock and like Kirk, the mental framework produced a hardened heart against God and yet God still could change the heart of Lewis. I would almost go so far as to say his training with Kirk sharpened his senses for Lewis’ religious reasoning. Kirk did not allow Lewis to go on thinking without first logically working though why and on what basis did he speak. I believe this would later help Lewis when becoming a Christian to articulate his beliefs in his other works such as Mere Christianity. It has been amazing to see how Lewis has been transforming into such a scholar. I am becoming more eager as the book inches closer and closer to his conversion to read about his complete transformation into the Christian scholar we love and remember today.
In chapter eleven, check, Lewis updates the history of the development of ‘joy’ in his life. Though this divisions somewhat arbitrary for the sake of argument this chapter can be very loosely divided into three parts, an account of the ‘wrong’ way he came to see joy at this point in his mind; his intellectual flirtations with the occult; and finally, at the end of his chapter, his recovery from this temptation and a sort of clarification of the feeling of ‘joy’. Understood in light of these divisions the quote at the beginning of the chapter is significant; “When the bale is highest, boote is at next”. Meaning (according to Brewer’s dictionary of phrase and fable, p 89) when things have come to the worst the needs must mend. The context of the quote is also relevant. It is said by a child who will save an innocent queen from her false husband Sir Aldingar who is angling to have her killed. This story seems to have metaphoric parallels with the threat to Lewis’s occult temptation and the eventual rescue of joy by through a sort of pure form of fiction which is related in this chapter. The title of the chapter, check, also seems to be significant. Check seems to me to be used here in the sense of the chess term, as though the first step of the spiritual checkmate Lewis will undergo. In particular the line,” that night my imagination was, in a certain sense, baptized; the rest of me, not unnaturally, took longer.” would seem to support this idea.
ReplyDelete-Althea Francis
"Accordingly I put the war on one side to the degree which some people will think shameful and some incredible. Others will call it a flight from reality. I maintain that it was rather a treaty with reality, the fixing of a frontier. I said to my country, in effect, 'You shall have me on a certain date, not before. I will die in your wars if need be, but till then I shall live my own life. You may have my body, but not my mind. I will take part in battles but not read about them.'" (Page 88)
ReplyDeleteThis excerpt is taken from the chapter "Fortune's Smile." In this chatper Lewis chronicles his time at Bookham and his relationship with Arthur. I was trying to figure out why Lewis would title this chapter "Fortune's Smile." Athough he does explain that learning with the Great Knock is rewarding and there does seem to be a greater sense of ease at Bookham than at Lewis's other schools, the idea of "fortune" not only implies a pleasure and happiness, but also the idea of chance. In a way, Lewis's happiness during this time did not seem like it is enough to constitute "fortune." However after reading this passage about military conscription, I did realize that a lot of this chapter revolves around the idea of a draft. Although Lewis seems fond of this Arhtus fellow, he does mention that in a way Arthur is a replacement for his brother's companionship now that his brother was serving the military. The fact that Lewis mentions on several occasions about his brother's military service coupled with this passage makes me believe that the way "fortune" smiles on him is by allowing him to escape from military life (at least for awhile). This passage illustrates that Lewis would rather be studying than fighting. He seems to put a great importance on his "mind" than his "body," and on "read[ing]" than "battles." This juxtaposition between his scholarly pursuits and his military duties demonstrates a juxtapostion between what he wants to be doing and what he dreads. Because there is the idea of "dread" then the idea of "fortune" makes sense, because Lewis is "fortunate" enough to forget about the army for a while.
Furthermore, this passage highlights the idea of a "treaty with reality." Lewis tends to make a lot of imginary "treaties" or "agreements" that he find implicit within himself. Other than this "treaty," lewis also mentions that "it had been long since been agreed" between Tim, his dog, and him that Tim "should not be expected to accompnay [Lewis] on walks (90)." Obviously, "reality" and his dog cannot verbally make an agreement with Lewis, but he still seems to find this agreements implicit in each situation.
Ginger
I think the character of the "Great Knock" is fascinating, not simply because of the kind of man he is, but in the way that Lewis describes him. The way he interacts with others is in such a style that social normalities don't apply. It is also soon after this description that Lewis points out that he was an Atheist. I don't know if this was an intended correlation to be made, but it seems to me as if Lewis is saying that it is against nature and life itself to go against the idea of a God. However, I believe I should mention now that I am probably reading far too much into this simple exchange.
ReplyDeleteBut then he goes on to talk about how Atheists were much different, and even refers to them as Rationalists. I thought this was a very interesting point. Today, being an Atheist is as much of a political statement as it is a religious one. I identify Atheism with being pro-choice, pro- same sex marriage, and essentially pro- anything Christians support. Logically, I know this to be a stereotype that isn't completely accurate, but it is a way of thinking that has seeped into our culture and made itself apparent. As Lewis said, even back in the 1950's, "For Atheism has come down in the world since those days, and mixed itself in politics and learned to dabble with dirt."
In this, we can see Lewis' first interaction with a grounded, intelligent Atheist, and how he even reacts to him several years later. It was still a relationship of respect. I am greatly interested to see how he eventually changes his mind, but even more so to see how he maintains he respect for the Great Knock once he converts. It's rare to hear of Christians supporting Atheists in their beliefs.
-Weston Scott
In Chapter 9, Lewis describes his ideal day. This is not a day I would like to live, which is why it caught my attention. He seems to get joy from reading, and nature. His ideal day does not include people because they will either destroy nature's stillness or keep him longer than he would like. I find this extremely strange because I live to be around people, and would prefer company even when reading.
ReplyDeleteThe next thing I noticed is how many languages he learned. He just seemed to go from one language to the next. Although, he stopped half way through German, he says that he tried several other times to keep learning it. That surprised me too, because I am content knowing 3/4 languages. No part of me would want to keep going, but Lewis seems to have this inner desire or thirst to learn more.
This thirst for knowledge seems to drive him on as he wants to spend 6 hours or more a day just reading. He actually wants to do that. That is hard for me to grasp, but this desire and thirst leaves me with a clear understanding of how he became such a great writer.
Josef John
“The surest way of spoiling a pleasure [is] to start examining your satisfaction.” – C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy
ReplyDeleteThis quote is one of the most interesting that I have ever read in this book. This is such a simple statement when you first look at it and think to yourself, “yea, that’s true.” But the question is, why is it true? When we start to examine the object that is bringing us pleasure we begin to realize what is NOT there as opposed to truly focusing and acknowledging what IS there (when Lewis talks of pleasure in this sense, he is comparing it to a blessing or a gift that has been given). What a selfish thought/action that becomes of this. A gift is not something that is worked for, it is given out of love and blessing, and the “special-ness” of a gift given out of love should be received and acknowledged with the up most reverence and thanksgiving. I believe that this is a life changing principle. Living with an “attitude of gratitude” causes humility to drive and motivate your, and in humility there is strength and power.
"Our grown up friends and especially my cousins at Mountbracke, now seemed less grown up, for ones immediate elders grow downward or backward to meet one at that age" (88)
ReplyDeleteThis passage was one that really caught my eye. It seems at first to be an odd statement and yet it holds so much truth to it when you read deeper. When looking at it from just the surface, it seems that this passage is talking purely about what life like as you grow in age. However, this passage really brings out the concept of point of view or perspective in one’s life. As a young child, those older than you seem to be many, many more years advanced than you. However as you grow older, the gap seems to become smaller even though, obviously that is impossible. I think this concept of changing point of view really relates to his life and how he is changing until he will eventually be converted to Christianity. As you read through this novel, you see how in almost every chapter his opinions and world view slowly change and morph. As he continues to grow his perspective constantly changes and he sees the world and the things that occur around him in a much different light, much like a child growing into adult sees other adults, in a sense, growing backwards as he matures.
-Peter Nishinaga
“The Great Knock” was the most intriguing and memorable character that I have come across so far in my readings. His character, in and of itself, is not interesting so much as C.S. Lewis’ interaction and impression of him was. “If ever a man came near to being a purely logical entity, that man was Kirk.” (76) This description of Kirk is one that isn’t usually a good quality, but C.S. Lewis certainly took an interest in this man. Kirk was certainly a man that shaped Lewis in his younger years. “Kirk excited and satisfied one side of me. Here was talk that was really about something. Here was a man who thought not about you but about what you said.” (76) I believe that someone like Kirk was a big influence on the thinking and also writing style of C.S. Lewis. Lewis took an enjoyment in the opportunity to verbally spar against Kirk and in doing so became better in his rhetorical tactics. I believe that this was another instance of Lewis experiencing joy. “To me it was red beef and strong beer.” (76) His experience with Kirk was one that we can see as being unique to Lewis. His enjoyment in conversing with Kirk was something that somewhat unusual because of the responses that Kirk was known to give. I think that Lewis’ experience with the “Great Knock” was something that molded his thinking. Having a teacher who forced you to have support and reason for every argument you make would either discourage you from arguments altogether or, in the case of C.S. Lewis, cause you to formulate much stronger support and reasoning abilities in rhetorical writing.
ReplyDeleteJeremiah Lee
Chapter Ten's title and excerpt taken from Spenser's Faerie Queene give a great deal of insight into how he saw that time of his life. He experienced a revival of his camaraderie with his brother, encountered the many romanticist authors he became more and more familiar with, and he determined to enjoy life while he still kept his distance from the looming war. All these were indicative of the time of his life he seems to associate with epic poetry and fortune's smile. "Blame me if you can, for being a romantic", he says in regards to the picturesque hills of Ireland and indeed in this chapter it is very easy to consider him such. For all his practicality and straight-forward thinking, at times, and especially this one, C.S. Lewis does allow himself to be a romantic. In keeping with this fanciful time in his life, however, he does enact an insincere Confirmation, an event he describes as one of the biggest regrets of his life, but not surprising seeing as he lived a pretty carefree existence at the time. Is it coincidental that these all occur at the same time he found a partial revival of his chivalrous tales from childhood and when he was thinking "I will die in your wars if need be, but until then I shall live my own life". All or nothing, and I believe that in this chapter, Lewis knew he basked in Fortune's smile.
ReplyDelete“Under Arthur’s influence I read at this time all the best Waverleys, all the Brontes, and all the Jane Austens. They provided an admirable complement to my more fantastic reading, and each was the more enjoyed for its contrast to the other. The very qualities which had previously deterred me from such books Arthur taught me to see as their charm… “Homeliness” – a key word in his imagination…meant the rooted quality which attaches them to all our simple experiences, to weather, food, the family, the neighborhood.” (p.84)
ReplyDeleteI see Lewis’s friendship with Arthur as a fine example of the belief that ‘everything happens for a reason.’ Arthur truly made a lasting difference in Lewis’s life, and helped Lewis see and appreciate books and authors that he had not been able to understand previously. While Arthur and Lewis had known of each other, they had not become close until later, at a specific time of transition in his life. I personally believe that every individual in one’s life is not there by coincidence, and that one is to learn something from everyone he or she meets. It is wonderful that Lewis was able to meet a kindred spirit and be so influenced by their relationship. His appreciation for nature and the beauty of the outdoors was also altered by his friendship with Arthur, and what is important is that once one’s eyes are opened to new things, they are opened for good. And because Lewis’s relationship with his own father was so distant, it was probably necessary for Lewis to have a close friend with whom he could share a side of himself that he hid from his father, despite the fact that Lewis had previously thought that he did not need the companionship of boys his own age.